The Latin American Wars of Independence were the various revolutions that took place during the late 18th and early 19th centuries and resulted in the creation of a number of independent countries in Latin America. These revolutions followed the American and French Revolution, which had profound effects on the Spanish, Portuguese and French colonies in the Americas. Haiti, a French slave colony, was the first to follow the United States to independence, during the Haitian Revolution. Creoles in South America, led by Simon Bolivar, followed with revolutions of their own gaining independence for the rest of Latin America.

Characteristics of the Colonial System

Colonial governments mirrored the home governments

Catholicism had a strong influence on the development of the colonies

A major element of the economy was the mining of precious metals for export.

Hacienda – A Spanish owned plantation that used native or slave labor

Encomienda – the right to organize unpaid labor by the earliest Spanish colonists in Latin America.

Established major cities as outposts of colonial authority

Havana

Mexico City

Lima

Sao Paulo

Buenos Aires

Rigid Class Structure

Viceroys/colonial officer

Creoles

Mestizo

Influence of the American and French Revolutions on the Americas

Revolutions in the Americas were led by native born men of European background (except for French Haiti) who were able to rally the population to the cause of independence.

Slaves in Haiti rebelled, abolished slavery, and won independence.

Father Miguel Hidalgo started the Mexican independence movement.

Independence came to French, Spanish, and Portuguese colonies.

Locations of selected countries that gained independence during the 1800s

Mexico

Haiti

Colombia

Venezuela

Brazil

Contributions of Toussaint L’Ouverture

Former slave who led Haitian rebellion against French.

Defeated the armies of three foreign powers: Spain, France, and Britain.

At first, Haiti tasted freedom, but after L’Ouverture’s death, it fell into despotism.

Contributions of Simon Bolivar

Liberated the northern areas of Latin America.

Native-born resident who led revolutionary efforts.

Tried during the 1820s to bring regions together under a federal constitution modeled after that of the United States. The plan failed because of the differences of the Latin American peoples.

Monroe Doctrine was issued by American President, James Monroe in 1823.

The document was backed by theBritish government as well.

Latin American nations were acknowledged to be independent.

The United States would regard as a threat to its own peace and safety any attempt by European powers to impose their system on any independent state in the Western Hemisphere.

The United States would not interfere in European affairs.

The document continues to be a cornerstone of American foreign policy.

Click above to begin a quest for knowledge on the Latin American Revolutions.